A small smile appeared on Harry's face as he said goodbye to his latest customer, the young green-eyed wizard currently found himself behind the till of the book store, Flourish and Blotts. Yesterday, after he finished his meeting with Tonks he had headed over and was able to gain a summer job here. He hadn't expected to be put on the till the first day but he liked to think that he had adapted fairly well. The manager had shadowed him at first, but after a couple of hours, he had decided that Harry was capable of doing the job without supervision.
Nearly everyone had recognised him, he wouldn't be surprised if tons of people rushed over to the shop to get served by 'Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived'. Perhaps that was why the manager has let him sign on so quickly, he wouldn't be surprised.
"Excuse me," A voice said, Harry looked up and found a rather attractive woman staring at him. She was tall, slim, and very pale with blue eyes, long blonde hair.
"Yes Ma'am?" Harry asked in a polite voice.
"I wish to buy this book," The woman said as she placed a green book on the counter. "I would also like to have the Hogwarts third yearbook set."
"Of course, do you want some of the elective books as well?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I do," The woman nodded. "I'll have the third year books for ancient runes, care of magical creatures and…" The woman paused, a look of distaste and disapproval appeared on her face. "… divination."
"You don't like divination?" Harry asked curiously before walking over to grab the books.
"I've heard plenty of rumours and facts about the current divination teacher at Hogwarts and I find her lacking in more than one way," The woman rolled her eyes. "I am well aware that many students simply take the class for an easy grade, though I had hoped that my son would have done better than that. Besides, even under a competent teacher, it's an imprecise brand of magic that very few can actually master." She seemed to be enjoying having someone to complain to, to Harry it seemed like she had really wanted someone to listen to her.
"Really?" Harry asked, putting the elective books on the till counter.
"Oh yes," The woman sighed. "I told my son the very same thing. What electives have you chosen, Mr Potter?"
"Ah, I was kind of hoping you had missed that." Harry gestured to his scar before answering. "Well, I had chosen care of magical creatures and divination, though the last one was mostly because my friend was doing it. Is it really that bad?" Harry frowned.
"Oh, it's ghastly," The woman said quickly. "if I was you, I'd do my best to transfer out."
"Hmm, I'll give the other two a look then," Harry said thoughtfully, he was in a book store, he was pretty sure that he couldn't have picked a better place to learn about the two.
"Really?" The woman sounded mildly surprised. "You would listen to a random stranger?"
"I don't really see the point in not listening to what sounds like good advice," Harry shrugged. "besides, I haven't made any choices yet. I'm just going to take a look at them and if I like them then I'll send a letter to Professor McGonagall."
"Hmm," The woman gave him an appraising look. She opened her mouth to speak when another voice interrupted.
"What's taking so… Potter?!" A surprised voice blurted out, Harry sighed as he saw the surprised face of the school bully, Draco Malfoy. "You… you're working in here?" Malfoy blurted out after having recovered from his shock, his lips curling up into a wide smile.
"Yeah, what about it?" Harry asked.
'Let's eat him.' Venom suggested in a soft voice, causing Harry to nearly jump. He had almost forgotten about the symbiote due to how quiet he had been.
'No, you're not eating anyone, he probably tastes horrible anyway.' Harry sent back.
"The great Harry Potter," Draco said in a mocking voice. "fallen down to a store assistant." Draco laughed loudly.
"I've gotten a summer job, Malfoy." Harry rolled his eyes. "It's this thing that people do…"
"Oh, this is hilarious," Draco interrupted with another loud laugh. "what's the matter, Potter? Run out of money? Did Weasley steal it?"
"No, Malfoy," Harry at this point was honestly quite tempted to just let Venom out and have him put Malfoy in his place, he had no doubt that seeing Venom's bright white teeth would cause Malfoy to go even paler. Heck, he might even cause Malfoy to wet himself, Harry would pay top galleon to see that. "I'm using this job to keep busy and the money is just a good bonus."
"Hey Potter, if I give you a galleon, will you dance for me?" Draco laughed.
"Malfoy, I don't know how much you usually pay boys to do things for you, but I assure you that you don't have enough money to afford me," Harry replied in a dry voice, Draco opened his mouth to respond but paused as he realised what Harry was implying.
"How dare you?!" Draco's face turned bright red as he glared at Harry.
"If you don't want me to say things you don't like then stop saying things I don't like," Harry glared back. "you want to make fun of me? Of me? Because I have a summer job? Or is it because, unlike you, I don't plan to spend the rest of my life having 'daddy dearest' pay for everything."
"You filthy little…"
"Draco!" The woman snapped, having watched the whole exchange with eyes that had grown wider and wider the whole time. Though, they have now narrowed and aimed at Draco. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked with a sort of forced calm.
"What?" Draco blinked. "I didn't do anything." Judging by the look on her face, that wasn't the answer she was looking for.
"Oh? Because I have a list compiled in my head."
'I have an alien in mine.' Harry thought to himself.
'Firstly, you interrupted my conversation with Mr Potter," The woman began. "secondly, you started mocking him for having a job, thirdly you behaved quite rudely and fourthly you made a scene. Thank Merlin that there isn't anybody else here at the moment or by the end of the week the alley would be filled with rumours of the Malfoy heir thinking himself better than 'lowly shopkeepers'."
"But Mother, I…" Draco began but was quickly interrupted.
"I'm not finished, Draco." The woman, that was apparently Mrs Malfoy, cut him off. "Mr Potter has made a valid point, look at him, only thirteen years old yet he is responsible enough to start trying to earn some money instead of wasting his family's money." That comment caused Malfoy to glare at Harry, in response Harry gave him a small wave and a cheeky smile. "We will be going home now and we will be discussing your behaviour with your father."
"What?!" Draco looked horrified. "But I…"
"No excuses," She handed Harry the money before waving her wand over the books, shrinking them and sending them into her bag. "thank you for your service, Mr Potter." She nodded to him before walking away, Draco shot Harry another glare before he walked away.
"Come back anytime." Harry couldn't help but shout. Malfoy stopped, for a second it looked like he was going to do or say something, but instead he continued walking after his mother.
'Pussy.' Venom's voice interrupted Harry's thoughts, a small laugh escaped Harry's mouth at Venom's comment about Draco, thankfully he was able to get himself under control by the time the next few customers had arrived.